Identifying Families Who May Be Struggling After Adoption Or Guardianship

Targeted prevention efforts after adoption or guardianship from foster care are intended to help families most at-risk and prior to the onset of significant issues. Most adoptive and guardianship families adjust well with supportive services in place; only a small proportion have difficulties that result in children returning to foster care after adoption or guardianship. This study examined the use of administrative data to identify families at-risk for post-permanency discontinuity. Administrative data have some utility for identifying families that may struggle, however, they provide a limited representation of risk. Caregiver survey responses in four states (n=1,670) found that families with universal outreach scored higher on child behavioral and caregiver strain measures than families specifically targeted based on risk factors identified in the administrative data. These findings suggest that caregiver commitment and familial relationships questions should be assessed prior to targeting prevention services aimed at reducing post-permanence discontinuity. Specifically, a brief check-in with families after adoption or guardianship, with key questions discussed here, could be beneficial to identify and engage struggling families for prevention and early intervention services.